Saturday, December 31, 2016

1. In
this song,Tammy sings of being able to hear "the breeze from the bayou."
What sounds can you hear as you answer these questions? The gentle hum of the humidifier. We are glowing around here! Also Lucky Dog just came on....I love that program.2. This
week's song was the theme of a popular movie about a girl who grew up
on a houseboat in Mississippi. Looking back on 2016, did you spend much
time on or around water? Not at all, unless you count the pond at the park where we walk the dogs.

3. In addition to being an
Oscar-nominated actress, this week's artist, Debbie Reynolds, was a big
movie fan. She amassed an amazing cache of movie memorabilia. Do you
collect anything? Christmas ornaments, would come the closest to a collection. I use to bring back something from from trips we made. I don't so much any more. I do have a doll collection from my youth. Packed away. I am not much of a collector.
4. Though she never won a competitive
Oscar for acting, Debbie Reynolds was awarded the Academy's Jean
Hersholt Humanitarian Award earlier this year for 60 years of charity
work. While she supported many causes throughout her life, one she was
closest to was The Girl Scouts. She was not only a Scout herself, she
was a leader when daughter Carrie was young and a fundraiser throughout
her life. Were you ever in Boy or Girl Scouts? I was in Girl Scouts until high school, and I also was a troop leader for my daughter's Brownie group in second grade. Whenever I can choose the group to support it is Scouts.

5. No Question #5 so I'll post another gif of Debbie.

6.
The New Year's Eve fireworks celebrations in both Disney World in
Florida and Sydney, Australia coordinate pyrotechnics and music. Are you
expecting either fireworks or live music on your New Year's Eve
celebration? I think I mentioned before, that some idiots in our town shoot guns at midnight.

7.
According to the National Insurance Bureau, more cars are stolen on New
Year's Eve than any other single day. Are you confident your vehicle(s)
will be safe and sound this Saturday night? Oh yes, We always make sure it is parked inside the yard on holidays to keep it from being damaged...but mainly, I am not sure car theft is a major crime in Hooterville.

8. Do you have any New Year's Resolutions for 2017? I think I would really like to take a class or finally join the senior group at the YMCA, I need to do something outside the house.
9. Looking back on 2016, what surprised you? I am not talking about the election anymore, but that was a big surprise.

Friday, December 30, 2016

The Friendly Fill-Ins are four fun and easy statements to complete. Ellen of 15andmeowing provides the first two statements and the final two are offered by Ann at mcguffeysreader. They try to make sure it will be fun to both answer and share. If you are also a cat lover, or if like me you have only dogs, you should join in the fun!

Week 34: December 30, 2016

1. The highlight of my Christmas wasreally getting what I wanted and needed. I made an Amazon wish list of quite a few things, and Mr BC picked several to surprise me with. He doesn't get out and about to shop, but he was an adept learner, once I showed him how to order. Amazon let me share my Prime with him on his own account.

2. My New Year's resolution is to let the election go it is what it is and I am going to try to meditate again, so I can remain calm through the next four years. I would truly like to be surprised.

3. This year, 2016, especially the last quarter, has been truly sad and disappointing, we have lost of lot of luminaries. Especially Carrie and her mom. Several generations have seen icons pass away too soon.

giphy.com

Tumbler Mlkshk

4. Next year, 2017, please Oh please: Let's have the legislative and executive branch, work toward seeing to the needs of ALL Americans, not just Republicans, CEO's and other fundamentalists. That they work towards compromise and good sense on the economy, health care, human rights, immigration and terrorism. And if THEY don't, a judicial branch who will see the constitution as our benchmark and; as the living, breathing, and growing document, it should be. I don't ask for much, just that Washington, helps me keep my resolution to remain calm.

Did you see what I did there.....I sort of, made my own meme/button here. I wish I knew more about computers and making images. I was able to make a meme out of a picture of Gwennie, that turned out well last week.

I just wish I knew more like how to make gifs. When I want one, I google who I want to put on my blog, like Debbie Reynolds gifs, then click images.(That information is for you. Valerie) I also need to get better at attribution, instead of being so lazy.

Giphy.com

Carrie Fisher had been a shocker this week, but to wake up this morning to see that her mother had died overnight wasso sad. She was the star of my youth, I imagine I have seen all of her movies. There is truth to the adage that parents are not meant to outlive their children. It was too much for her.

Christmas was quiet and lowkey, DD2 was here and brought the wine to have with our lasagne. We had a nice afternoon and evening. I got an almost full face hat for winter walking. Next week is going to be cold. and while I might look like a green ninja, I will be protected.

Yesterday I paid my property taxes, I don't know why they have to be due at the end of the year. I liked paying them twice a year in CA.

We will ring in the New Year quietly, as usual. with the exception of the gun shots, from somewhere in town. I don't know why someone would do that either, so dangerous.

I got some pictures of the boys....they are in Rome in this week before New Years....what an experience. I hope they will be safe from all harm and have a great time.

Sunday, December 25, 2016

1. Do you send out Xmas cards and if so how many do you send? Not anymore, Most of my Holiday Greetings are done through social media....I know I'm a terrible person.

http://traviswhitecommunications.com

2. Do you write and send a holiday letter to describe your year? Sometimes, I wrote a longer message in my Cards, I never liked just sending a signed card.3. What do you think of photo cards? I like them. I would send this one of Gwennie.

4. How about the tree thing – do you have one every year? Do you prefer a real or
artificial? We had a lovely artificial tree, out in CA, due to allergies. I have 2 small ones back here in MO, and they are up if we are spending the holidays here. They are here.

5. Describe your typical tree (size, decorations, type). If you don’t have a tree,
do you decorate and if so, tell us about it. (If you don’t decorate make up a
story here…) See #4

6. Do you hang up stockings? Whose names are on them (and relationships)? My mother knitted stockings for all of her family and some nieces and nephews....my guess is they still have them.

8. Tell us about an Xmas movie you hate. I do not like the horror ones and won't watch them. Gremlins was bad enough.
9. What’s favorite Xmas Song(s) That would be hard to decide.

10. What holiday song makes you want to hurl? I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, it is being used on a USPS commercial and I get an ear worm every time.

11. What do you prefer for your holiday meal? Something simple. We have chili on Christmas Eve and this year we are going to have lasagna, salad and Italian pastries. We use to do turkey and trimmings and I hated being in the kitchen all day.

12. When do you open your gifts? When the girls were small, they got to open their Christmas PJ's the night before....but every thing else on Christmas morning.

15. Do you ever travel for the holiday? We travel to family....but never to a Christmas destination.16. Did you see Santa as a child? Yes, but we haven't taken the dogs to see Santa.

17. Have you ever gone caroling?Yes. In Girl Scouts.

18. Do you drive around and look at the Xmas lights?Not any more....there is just a lot ofinflatables around and boy do those look funny on the ground in the morning.19. Have you ever had a white Christmas? Oh sure! Not in CA though!

20. Do you know how to ice skate? If yes, when did you skate the last time? I took lessons....again in Girl Scouts, i was about 12,I haven't been back.21. Are we crazy for thinking that the holiday season is WAY too commercial?We're not crazy....the reason for the season seems to be material goods.

22. Have you ever worked Xmas eve or Xmas day? Years ago I liked to work on Christmas, lots of great overtime and since my teenagers no longer got up early, I use to do an early shift and someone else in my family got to do Christmas dinner.23. What are your Xmas pet peeves? Traffic, we even have it here in MO. Christmas starts too early and so lasts way too long.24. What’s your favorite thing about the holidays? We will be a small family group this year, and I would love to be spending it with the boys as well. They will be in Belgrade for 2 Christmases and New Year.

Saturday, December 24, 2016

1. As you can see, Sam loved giving her annual wish list to Santa. Yet
some children are reluctant to climb into Jolly Old St. Nick's lap. Did
you enjoy the tradition or were you shy? Or did you by pass it
altogether -- either you wrote him a letter or because your
family didn't celebrate Christmas? We went to see Santa when I was 8 and my brother was about 1.5. I didn't believe much but since I had a new baby brother, I continued on for several years. I remember writing a letter once and burning it in the fireplace, that was suppose to get it to him quickly.

2. Are you currently on the Naughty or Nice list? How did you get there? I think I am on the Nice List. I don't do too many Naughty things anymore.

3. Did you ship any gifts to friends and family this year? If so, which one traveled the farthest? My thing go from Amazon to Santa Barbara. The grandsons will be in Belgrade, Serbia, this year so I shipped early. I have some books that I am saving to bring for birthdays in February. Most all shopping was done online this year.

4. Did you buy yourself a gift this year? Not really. It is easy not to do that when I am online shopping....I put a bunch of things on Amazon's wish list for Mr BC to follow up on. I bought a humidifier, but that was for all of us.

5. What's your favorite holiday-themed movie? It is a toss-up, Christmas Story and Christmas Vacation

6. Thinking of movies, Christmas is lucrative for Hollywood. Have you ever gone to a movie theater on Christmas Day? We were going to see Star Wars last year, but Mr BC was still sick. Now that I haven't got so much to do during the holidays, I don't find Movies on Christmas Day so odd.

7. Have you ever suffered an embarrassing moment at the company Christmas party? I am sure I have, but now that I don't work, I don't have anyone bringing it up.

9. Share a memory from last Christmas. It was kind of a sad Christmas, Mr BC was still sick, and was not eating well. We had tickets to see Willie Nelson, so DD1 went with me, as Mr BC was just out of the hospital. This Christmas Mr BC went shopping online and there will be gifts.

Friday, December 23, 2016

he Friendly Fill-Ins are four fun and easy statements to complete. Ellen of 15andmeowing provides the first two statementsand
the final two are offered by myself. We try to make sure they will be
fun to both answer and share. On Friday, the linky will be posted at or
about 12:00 AM. Please come back, link up, and share your thoughts! Here
are this week's statements with the blanks:

Week 33: December 23, 2016

1. I still need to wrap presents, though I got my shipping stuff done early and had Amazon wrap them, before Christmas.

2. My favorite episode of Seinfeld is The Hamptons.

3. What I really would like for Christmas is having my whole family together for the holiday, not happening again this year.

4. My favorite part of Christmas time is getting my tree up....this year I have 2 little trees.

These are my diningroom and livingroom trees, respectively, this is about all the decorating I will do, except for my table centerpiece and stockings. I miss my fireplace back in the CA house.

I have the new humidifier running and I hope to see a difference by Christmas Eve.

I use the list function on my phone for my shopping list and took it to the grocery store ...... without checking the battery.....and it expired before I finished shopping, so there will be another grocery run before tomorrow.

As my dogs are aging....they are both 11.....they are beginning to get grumpy with each other. I am going to take them to get their teeth cleaned next month in case they have teeth problems. I have them in calming collars, which I think has actually worked somewhat for them in the past, the aggressive teeth baring has slowed some. I am going to try calming chews when they arrive in today's Amazon shipment. I will report on the results.

And now a selection of fun......

My all time favorite Christmas Movie?

This has happened a lot during the Holidays.

A questionable Christmas sweater choice, perhaps too much to drink at the Office party?

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Grocery shop for Christmas DinnerCook: I decided to have Lasagne for Christmas Dinner this year. I am going
to use the recipe from my old Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book. It is
very tasty. I haven't bakedit for many years, as I have been
using vegetarian, Mexican, and quick version recipes of lasagne, when I have made it over the last few years.Christmas Eve is just us two, so it will be quiet, so I can finish this list off.DD2, will spend Christmas Daywith us, DD2 is in Belgrade with her husband's family. The boys are good travelers. They are all going to make a side trip to Rome.

2. The Hodgepodge lands on the first day of winter this year. What's your favorite thing about winter? That we only have 3 months to endure and then it will be Spring. That will be helped along when I go to CA for a couple of weeks.

3. In what area of your life are you immature? Feel free to elaborate or not. I still wait until the last minute to do things. Procrastination is my middle name.

4. What was the most (or one of the most) important lessons you learned in 2016? Where do I start? I misunderstood just how truly divide our country is now, and will be, for at least the next 4 years. Also, that I really have very little, in common with the folks of middle America, who are my neighbors. I am truly disappointed, and don't have a lot of hope, that HE will surprise us in a positive way.

5. It's Fried Shrimp Day...are you a fan? What's your favorite way to
eat shrimp? Will there be shrimp somewhere in your holiday feastings? Shrimp Alfredo or fried shrimp. We won't be having shrimp during the holidays.

6. What sound lulls you to sleep? The snoring of my sweet corgi, Gwennie.

7. What one word best describes your 2016? Grateful....that Mr BC made such a good recovery, and is doing so well with his dialysis. Ourlife is getting back to normal just a little.

8. Insert your own random thought here. I still have a lot of packages to come this week from Amazon. I did most of my shopping online, as did Mr Bankerchick. One interesting thing I found on Amazon was this:

I got two of them, they really match my hardwood, and kind of disappear on the floor.I will put them in my stocking. I also have a multiroom humidifier coming tomorrow. My hands are like sandpaper and my nose is really dry. I am hoping we will all feel better.